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Re: Reconciling WCAG 2.4.7 & 1.4.11

for

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Sep 4, 2018 2:45PM

On 04/09/2018 21:33, Peter Quale wrote:
[...]
> Now, with guideline 1.4.11 requiring a 3:1 contrast for focus indicators,
> we finally don't have to fight anyone on the question of "how visible is
> visible" since the guideline states" the visual focus indicator for a
> component must have sufficient (3:1) contrast against the adjacent
> background when the component is focused". But the guideline goes on to say
> "except where the appearance of the component is determined by the user
> agent and not modified by the author." I read this to say the guideline
> only applies to sites that add any focus styles. If the site just doesn't
> do anything to the outline or the focus, they can avoid 1.4.11 altogether.

From memory/paraphrasing, I believe the intention here was to make sure
that a site wouldn't be failed for things outside of its control. For
instance, if your site brings up a native alert() or similar - which is
completely outside of author control in terms of styling - then you're
exempted if the browser for some reason does a crappy job with the focus
indication.

Arguably, it's the browsers' responsibility to ensure their default (not
styled by authors) focus indication is sufficiently visible - but you're
right, this doesn't help the actual end users who struggle with certain
browsers' defaults.

This is indeed a loophole at present. I'd make it clear to clients that
they may be following the letter, but not the spirit, of the SC...for
what it's worth.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

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